Number of earthquake affected houses increase as information starts pouring in from previously inaccessible areas

The 26th October earthquake has caused extensive damages to houses in the affected areas in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The recorded death toll has reached to 363, while 2,358 people have been left injured and a reported 95,048 houses have been damaged and rendered inhabitable. Thousands of families have been left homeless in harsh conditions across the earthquake affected zone in Pakistan and Afghanistan. The extreme winter in these areas could lead to more hardships as communities have been left without shelter, wearable clothes or food to cope with the cold weather.

Moreover, this earthquake has resulted in considerable damage to the infrastructure, buildings, transport links and telecommunication networks in the north of the two bordering countries.

Pakistan: The number of reported deaths and damaged households in Pakistan has increased to 279 human lives, injuring 1,964 people and leaving 94,548 families without shelter. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) alone, 232 people have died, 1,561 have been injured, 495 school buildings have been damaged and 81,713 houses destroyed.

Since the day the 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck, 108 aftershocks have been recorded in the country. Terrified, affected communities rush out of their homes and make-shift shelters to save their lives every time an aftershock strikes. The winter in the north is expected to become harsher in the coming days as snowfalls continue. The cold weather is increasing the high probability of health concerns among the affected populations that have adequate shelter or other ways to protect themselves from the freezing temperatures. Winterization support is the most urgent need of the affected communities. This need is also validated by the Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Shangla district.

Winter kits, shelter, NFIs and health interventions have been identified as the foremost needs of the affected communities.

Afghanistan: The earthquake has damaged houses and resulted in potential casualties across northern, central and eastern Afghanistan, impacting a total of 13 provinces and 102 districts in the countryl Badakhshan, Nangarhar, Kunar, Laghman and Nooristan provinces are the most affected. Approximately 6,900 families have been affected by this natural disaster, leaving 84 people dead and 394 injured across Afghanistan.

The primary needs of the affected communities in Afghanistan are also identified as basic household supplies, blankets, tents, hygiene kits and shelters for those families whose houses have been completely destroyed. Access in some of the affected areas remains a challenge due to the difficult terrain and the prevalent security concerns.

Response by Community World Service Asia: Community World Service Asia’s Emergency Health Response team is currently providing health services through their Mobile Health Unit in District Shangla. The unit is supported by a Mobile Laboratory that diagnoses the affected communities through tests. The unit has so far conducted 856 consultations in the four union councils of Kuz Kana, Shahpur, Pirkhana and Malak Khel of district Shangla. A total of 442 male and 414 female patients have been checked at the MHU since it has been set up. In addition, 65 lab tests have also been carried out in these three union councils.

Provision of emergency winterization kits and food as a means of extending the assistance is scheduled to start soon by Community World Service Asia. The current target districts for response are Shangla and Swat while expansion to other districts is subject to the community needs and the availability of funds.

Community World Service Asia’s Emergency Response Teams are currently conducting assessments in Afghanistan which will shape the response strategy for the country.